The emergence of younger batsmen at the back-end of the one-day international
season may have re-energised the England squad, but it also provided yet
another reason to focus on the more familiar figure of Kevin Pietersen
before the players left for India.

Ostensibly rested for the 3-0 win against the same opponents last month,
Pietersen, 31, seems certain to start the five-match return beginning on
October 14, despite the precocious arrival of Jonny Bairstow, the
re-emergence of Ravi Bopara and his own average lying at a career-low mark.